FIVE KINGS (The Five Kings)
Chapter 6
Because he had the task of keeping Koan Tiong safe. Then he gave this excuse: ”Because my King wants to kill him with his own hands. His reason for satisfying his curiosity. If only delivered his body, this is also the same he has not Koan Tiong.”
Hearing this statement King Louw Cong Kong believes in Sek Peng's words. He paused his intention of killing Koan Tiong. He then ordered Koan Tiong to be put back in his cage. Then King Louw handed over a reply letter along with the heads of Prince Kiu and Siao Hut to Sek Peng. After saying thank you and saying goodbye, Sek Peng returned to the land of Cee.
Koan Tiong realized when he got such treatment, this must be a trick from Pao Siok Gee who wanted to help him. But Koan Tiong was still worried about Si Pek. He knows who this Pek is. He's a very good thinker in the Louw country. Even though he let go of himself, who knows he turned around. Out of regret, then Si Pek sent people after him. Then woe to him.
After thinking for a while, Koan Tiong got a good idea. He created a Hong-gok Bird pantun or verse. Then he asked the people who pulled his cage to sing the verse he created. The sound was like this:
”Hong-gok, Hong-gok, your wings and legs are tied;
Can't fly can't sound locked up stay down;
The sky is so high the earth is so thick, why act so shortsighted?
In the ninth month there were only three hundred and sixty days recorded;
Clench your neck screaming crying things first so remember.”
”Hong-gok, Hong-gok, God created wings so that they could fly;
God created your feet so you can run;
Meet the pictorial nets who brought it home?
One morning broke the cage down on the ground not carelessly,
Ha, what a pity archers think waver.”
The people who pulled the cages when they got the song were so excited. While pulling the cages they sing. They skilfully run around like they do not get tired because they are happy.
Thus their vehicle was rushed out loud. Usually the trip takes two days, but only lived in a day. It did not feel like they were out of the Louw country.
When the party that brought Koan Tiong had gone far, it was true that the Pek regretted King Louw Cong Kong.
”We have made a terrible mistake in freeing Koan Tiong alive. Later he will be our barrier!” said Si Pek.
King Louw Cong Kong was shocked. He is aware of his mistakes. Immediately he ordered Prince Yan to immediately pursue the entourage from Cee's country. Koan Tiong must be killed! But they're too late. Koan Tiong with Cee's entourage is no longer overtaken. Forced Prince Yan of Couw to return home empty-handed.
After the party that brought Koan Tiong arrived at Tiong-hu, they were greeted by Pao Siok Gee. The arrival of Koan Tiong is likened to the arrival of a valuable item. With glee Pao Siok Gee said, ”Welcome my best friend Koan Tiong! Thank goodness you didn't get anything!”
Pao Siok Gee ordered his men to break the cage and remove Koan Tiong from the cage.
”Before there is permission from the King you cannot open my cage, my friend!” koan Tiong.
He tries to prevent Pao Siok Gee's actions.
”Oh, it's okay!” pao Siok Gee said with a laugh. ”I'll propose that you be her maid!”
”Akh that's impossible,” said Koan Tiong. ”I was with Siao Hut helping Prince Kiu, but failed. But I did not die with my lord. I'm so ashamed. Where do I have the face of a conqueror, whereas Siao Hut willingly died for our lord.”
”You are wrong, my friend!” pao Siok Gee said patiently. ”Accomplished people, no need to pay attention to feelings of shame. I'm sure you're capable of great work. My king needs someone like you. Why is it that just because you want to keep morale, you're wasting your life? Don't think about it!”
Koan Tiong remained dumbfounded not to say anything.
Pao Siok Gee frees Koan Tiong from his bondage. He asked Koan Tiong to stay in Tiong-hu for a while. Then he went to the city of Lim-cu to meet King Cee Hoan Kong. When meeting first Pao Siok Gee expressed his condolences for the death of Prince Kiu. After that he congratulated King Cee Hoan Kong.
”O, why do you have to say sorry?” asked King Cee Hoan Kong in surprise.
”However Prince Kiu is Kanda My Lord. Because of the problems of your country you are forced to destroy your own brother. How can I not declare my condolences?” pao Siok Gee said with great sadness.
”But why did you congratulate me?” ask Cee Hoan Kong anyway.
”Koan Tiong is an extraordinary person at this time, if he is compared to Siao Hut, Koan Tiong is not a match for Siao Hut,” said Pao Siok Gee. ”Now my servant has brought him here alive. Thus my lord obtains a clever prime minister. Where could I not congratulate you?”
”Hamba hope my master does not misunderstand,” said Pao Siok Gee, ”people who become servants of someone, they must defend their master. When Koan Tiong shot my master, he was the servant of the deceased Prince Kiu. If my Master wears him, I am sure he will be loyal to my Master. Moreover, even my Master survived, it's a small affair!”
King Cee refused at first. But after being persuaded, he finally complied.
”Alright, I agree!” said King Cee. ”Free him!”
Pao Siok Gee. He paid a farewell to King Cee Hoan Kong and met Koan Tiong. Koan Tiong lives in his house. From then on, day and night, they talked at length.
When King Cee Hoan Kong rewards the meritorious. Kho He was appointed to Su-keng plus awarded land for the company. Pao Siok Gee will be appointed as Siang-keng with the task of taking care of the government. But Pao Siok Gee rejected that rank.
”My master is kind to my servant, my servant lives happily. All is enough for the servant. But being a Siang-keng, I am not ready.”
”Why is that? I already know your cleverness,” said Cee Hoan Kong.
”Frankly I have to confess, actually I do not have the intelligence that my Lord alleged.” Pao Siok Gee said seriously. ”Hamba only has the nature of always being careful and orderly in work. Servants always keep customs according to the rules. The skill of the servant is only sufficient for the duty of one who is a servant. Clearly it cannot be said to have the intelligence to take care of the government of a country. For example, inward he must be able to secure the people; outwards he must be able to enter the nation of Ie in the four directions. His head was recorded by the Royal Council, his virtue being spread to all the Young Kings.
The land became sentausa, the King of many regimes, his reward is engraved in marble, his name is famous for hundreds of years. This is only the king's servant or the King's work. Then how can I hold the office that my Lord offers, if the servant himself claims to be unable?”
Paras King Cee Hoan Kong changed her gleeful. King Cee knelt down before Pao Siok Gee.
”What did you say just now, do you think there's anyone you've said that already? I hope you like helping me show it to me!” said King Cee.
Pao Siok Gee with a clumsy attitude immediately raised to wake King Cee Hoan Kong. Then in a stern voice he said, ”If my Master doesn't want to find someone else, yes already! But if you want to know who that person is, that person is Koan Tiong!”
King Cee Hoan Kong was shocked to hear Pao Siok Gee mention the name.
”My master don't be surprised!“ pao Siok Gee. ”There are five things that state that I cannot be confused with Koan Tiong. First, in the matter of patience to spread virtue to the people. The second is to hold firm the control of the government, the third is to lead the people to be loyal and have trust, the fourth is to spread good rule throughout the country, and the fifth to hold the leadership of the armed forces. Let the people have courage on the battlefield. All that knowledge I do not possess as possessed by Koan Tiong.”
”Then, please call him here, I will test his intelligence,” said Cee Hoan Kong.
”Hope My Lord don't over-complicate,” Pao Siok Gee said with a smile. ”Because the lowly cannot get close to the nobles, the poor cannot get along with the rich and the far apart cannot love really. My master is about to wear Koan Tiong. If my Master does not give him the position of Prime Minister, and give him a great salary. My master doesn't respect him like my Master respects Father or Kanda himself. That can't happen. The Prime Minister is the chief minister. If my Master is going to call him and my Master is not giving him the post of Prime Minister, then my Master does not appreciate it. If a Prime Minister is not appreciated, then the King will not be allowed to. An extraordinary person, must be respected by extraordinary rules as well. My master had better choose a good day, then just go greet him. By doing so, the people of the whole world will know that my Master has appreciated the intelligent and respected the learned. Especially if my Master doesn't get revenge even if that person is a former enemy of my Master. Then who is the person who does not want to come to work and serve the Kingdom of Cee later?”
”Alright, I obey your advice,” said King Cee Hoan Kong while nodding his head.
Then King Cee ordered a Tay-su to choose a good day to welcome Koan Tiong.
Pao Siok Gee is very excited. After saying goodbye to King Cee Hoan Kong he met Koan Tiong. He escorted his best friend to a guest house and stayed there for a while.
**
When the time has been set, Pao Siok Gee ordered Koan Tiong to shampoo until clean. He was dressed and dressed like the clothes of a man of the rank of Siang Tay-hu.2)
Meanwhile King Cee Hoan Kong exits his palace. He went to the guest house to meet Koan Tiong. He took Koan Tiong on a train and together went to the palace. All the people of Cee country who saw the incident no one was not astonished.
After Koan Tiong entered the palace, he knelt before Cee Hoan Kong to accept the sin and salute the lord.
”Hamba, a prisoner, has been released from the death penalty was very lucky. How dare I receive more respect than I should?” koan Tiong said with a respectful attitude.
”I believe in you very much, please sit down first, then I will ask,” said King Cee sweetly.
Koan Tiong once again saluted and then sat down.
”Cee's country has a thousand chariot troops,” King Cee Hoan Kong said with a smile. ”When the late King Hi Kong assumed control of the government, with his arrogance he had conquered other Young Kings, thus earning praise and holding the title Siao Pa Ong. However, since the late King Cee Siang Kong reigned, because he did not properly take care of the government of the country Cee, so the country Cee became very chaotic. Now I head the government of Cee and pass various laws and policies. You think I should set this country how?”
”Know customs, know obligations, know chastity and know shame! Those are the four basics a country should have,” said Koan Tiong. ”If the four bases are not firm, surely the country can be destroyed. Now that my Lord wants to make a law of the country, then my Master must first establish the four foundations so that the people understand clearly. Thus, the law can be enforced and the prestige of the country can run.”
”How to make people understand and people want to obey?” said Cee Hoan Kong.
”If you want to make the people obey, first the King must love them. Then only then do we have a way to set rules for the people.”
